Nola finishes third in NL Cy Young Award voting

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies ace Aaron Nola had one of the finest seasons by a starting pitcher in the 136-year history of the franchise, but he finished a distant third in voting for the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday.

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies ace Aaron Nola had one of the finest seasons by a starting pitcher in the 136-year history of the franchise, but he finished a distant third in voting for the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday.

Nola received 27 third-place votes, two fourth-place votes and one-fifth place vote to collect 86 points.

The Mets' Jacob deGrom won his first Cy Young Award with 29 of 30 first-place votes and one second-place vote, good for 207 points. The Nationals' Max Scherzer finished second with 123 points.

Nola, 25, went 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA in 33 starts. He ranked second in the NL in ERA, opponents' OPS (.570) and barrels per plate appearance (3.0 percent); third in innings (212 1/3) and wOBA (.251); fourth in wins and FIP (2.97); fifth in strikeouts (224) and opponents' batting average (.197); sixth in average exit velocity (85.9) and eighth in hard-hit percentage (31 percent).

Nola also finished with a 10.5 pitching WAR, according to Baseball-Reference. deGrom finished second (9.6). Historically, Nola's WAR ranks 18th in the Majors over the past 100 seasons. It is the highest by any pitcher since Randy Johnson's 10.7 in 2002.

Nola's 19 starts allowing four or fewer hits are three more than any other Phillies pitcher since the mound moved to 60 feet, 6 inches, from home plate in 1893. Nola and Hall of Fame right-hander Grover Cleveland Alexander are the only Phillies pitchers since at least 1908 with 200 or more strikeouts and an opponents' batting average .200 or lower.

But deGrom clearly deserved the award despite finishing just 10-9, which are the fewest wins for a Cy Young winner in a full season. His 1.70 ERA was the sixth lowest in the Majors since MLB lowered the pitcher's mound to its current height in 1969.